I was often the girl of few words... Sometimes even none.

     The lights were eerily white. Artificial plants stood in each of the four corners. The sparse furniture was beige to light brown. The lack of windows blocked out any natural light, mentally suffocating my young six year old self.

     "...You have told me this story many times before, and I understand how terrible it all sounds, but how does it make you feel?" The lady with long purple hair asked, sitting across from me at one couch, whereas I sat at another. A short table separated the two of us. As compassionate and patient as she was being...I didn't understand what she meant.

     My head tipped downward, glossy eyes analyzing my lap as I fidgeted with a few loose strings on my pants.

     "I...felt bad?" My voice was so soft, a butterfly fluttering past might drown it out.

     "How so?"

     "My arm. It was bloody. It really hurt."

     "....Hhhh... Zeya, you know that isn't what I mean..." The lady's smile dropped, appearing disappointed. My hands began to shake as I made eye contact with her again. She wanted something from me I didn't know how to provide.

     You see... Emotions were a foreign concept to me. And like expecting someone who didn't even know how to read music notes to replay the entirety of Mozart's masterpieces, it was all too alienating to be asked how I felt.

     And yet...

     "Ms. Qila..?"

     "Hm? Yes?"

     "How would...you feel..?" I was drawn to understanding this foreign concept like none other.

     The woman tilted her head, a bit surprised. But there I sat, by big, dark brown eyes carefully examining her every movement. "I...would probably feel quite sad."

     "Yeah. M-me me too."

----------------------------------------------

BRAP! BRAP! BRAP!

     I turned the alarm off and laid back down in bed. A haze was over my mind, like the one I fell asleep in. ...Strange, I was back in my bed and everything... Oh well. Someone must have found and carried me back home or something.

     Rolling over, I pulled the thin gray blanket over me again in an attempt to forget the day's troubles and just sleep it off. Not long later, my eyes closed and I slept.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

     "Uuughghhhh..." I groaned at the door behind me.

     "Zeya! You're going to be late for your first day at UA! Your dad's already on his way there!" What?? I pushed myself up and turned my body around so I could squint again at that calendar. Realizing it was a paper one that wouldn't update unless I did that, I shuffled to the other side of my bed and grabbed my phone from atop the desk next to it. Turning to the online calendar, WHAT???

     It was the same day as before!..and the day before that!! My gosh, I really WAS in a time loop! My chest tightened and I realized I was holding my breath. I gasped and forced myself to breathe. But after half a second of panicking, my heavy eyes and heavy heart got the better of me. "I'm good." I groaned, just rolling over to sleep once more. I would only be expelled again if I did go. Be easier to just stay here and relax while I had the chance. Despite my mom later barging in and trying to convince me to go, I remained bed bound.

     "Well in that case, you're grounded!!" Shocked by my lack of even getting up.

     "Like I care.." Adding a little sarcasm as I pulled the blanket over me completely. With a huff, my mom left the room.

     I didn't eat either, or drink water, even when my mom offered to get me something. In fact, I refused to leave my laying position at all. I was just...done with everything. As the end of the day neared, my mom was more concerned than angry like before. She came to check in on me occasionally, even asking if I needed to see a doctor. I just replied with, "no."

     My head ached by the time the sun set outside my window. The door to my room cracked open, a tall figure obscuring much of the light from entering. "You've been expelled from UA." I heard the rare dosage of anger join with his words.

     "Yeah yeah.... Like I care..." I growled back. After a quiet moment, the door was closed behind me and I was left again to my own bitter silence. An ache in my chest swelled. I knew I was supposed to get up, and at least try to do something...

     But I didn't have the heart to care.

BRAP! BRAP! BRAP!

     I checked my phone calendar again. It confirmed that it was indeed the same day again. Though I didn't really want to live this day like the last, I saw there was no point and so slept through this one as well. Same as before. Worried mother and disappointed father. But I just didn't care. I got a headache a lot earlier in the day, so it was a lot less fun for me. This one was a lot more severe, too. So I did drink some water. That obviously wasn't the main cause, though.

BRAP! BRAP! BRAP!

     Same old. Same old.

BRAP! BRAP! BRAP!

     But on the fourth day of staying in..

Tck!

     My head rose to the sound of a small pebble hitting glass. I would have just ignored it, but...the same thing hadn't happened the previous days.

...CRASH!

     A much larger rock shot through my window, sending glass in all directions, whipping open the curtains. I nearly screamed. Stumbling out of bed for once, I caught my balance while being mindful of my bare feet among all this glass.  Shaky hands pulled out my phone again and double checked that this was the same day. It WAS. What is going on?!

     Despite my fear, my body drew nearer to the window so that I could see who it was outside. No one... I squinted around. So bright. About mid-day. I questioned if the rock was even thrown on purpose as I stepped up closer to the large gap left in the window to get a better view.

     A hand grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me outside. I shrieked at once.

     "STOP THIS TRIPPY TIME LOOP, D#####!" The recognizable voice of a certain someone caught my ear as I flew through the air.

     "Ough!" My back slammed into the grass of my own front lawn. The whole ghost town of a neighborhood bore witness to my pathetic beat down. My eyes were foggy, air knocked from my lungs. Even so, the bratty boy was shouting over me, his words all muffled save for a few. Something about me toying with him...? I was so confused.

     The exact moment I understood well enough my general position, I was picked up by the collar of my skimpy PJ shirt and yanked into the air again. This time it was just so I could be a little closer to the other's screaming face. "SO ARE YOU GOING TO STOP THIS OR NOT, B####!?!" I had to blink a couple times just to properly swallow what this guy was asking for.

     "I- I- I... What..?"

     "Oh, don't act stupid with me!.. I know you're doing this just to get on my nerves!!" Spiky hair spat. I cringed from all the shouting accusations.

     "Lis-liss-listen, here! I- I don't know what you mean!" Placing my feet under me so I could push myself up to the other's level, I was stuck between cowering away and forcing myself not to punch this guy in the gut!

     "I'M NOT STUPID!" Despite looking like all he wanted to do was punch me, spiky hair took a quick step back, letting go of my shirt as well. "I know you were there the first and second time, and then you LEFT! I know you are just as aware of this time loop as I am! And your dad said you could control time, too!! So what the Hell is this all about?!"

     Wait...
           He remembered the whole journal thing from before. Why did I not notice that?! And now?? He must be legit stuck like me! ...Oh no...

     I bashfully rose my hands as I stepped back. "Hehhh..listen... I know this might sound strange, but I am stuck like this too. In fact, I don't even know how I did this..nor how to make it stop!"

     "Oh, you BETTER be lying!" Raising a hand in front of him, it lit up with a series of small explosions. "BECAUSE I'M NOT LETTING SOME LITTLE TWERP LIKE YOU MAKE ME LIVE THE SAME BORING-A## DAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN!! YOU CAN STAY FOR ALL I CARE, BUT GET ME OUT OF THIS HELL!!" My eyes widened.

     Oh...no.

----------------------------------------------

     "Yes, yes! That is a very pretty smile. Good job!" Ms. Qila cheered me on. Still six, I sat in that same room, this time on my knees at the desk where an array of pictures and a propped up mirror rested. I sat fixated on my reflection, perfecting the expression that was asked of me. It was...oddly difficult. Without the mirror, I had no idea how to contort the muscles in my face in a way that resembled the pictures. "Now, here, how about this one? Can you frown?" The lady replaced one picture with another in her hands. I studied the expression, trying to figure out what about it made it different from the last. Realizing it had to do with the edges of my mouth being pulled downward instead of up, I turned to the mirror and tried to mimic it. "Good job! And do you know what a frown means?" She asked me. I stared at the picture in her hand again.

     "...I see some people look like that when I do something wrong." I concluded.

     "Really? And why do they frown when you do something bad?" She asked, forcing my brain to think of things I had never considered before.

     "...I don't know." I gave up.

     "Because...they are upset." She answered for me.

     "Oh... Do I frown when I am upset?"

     "That is...hard to answer." The older lady admitted, even chuckling a little. "Maybe if you practice enough, you can frown, and even smile at the correct time too?"

     A correct time to smile..?

     "How about this?" The lady started up again. Sweeping all the cartoonish style pictures of varying, exaggerated expressions into her hands, "How about you take these pictures to Ten and practice with him?" She offered. I nodded. When I was handed the pile of cards, I pulled out the one on the top of the pile and set it back on the table. "Why did you put that one down?" I was caught in a question before I had time to leave.

     "-Oh, he looks mean in that picture. I don't want to learn how to look mean to anyone."

     "Hmf.. And what about this makes him look mean?" Studying the picture herself, the lady smiled endearingly between the picture and I. I blinked a couple times before coming up with an answer.

     "He looks like he wants to hurt people." My innocent, whisper of a response melted the woman's heart. 

     "Awwh, well this face doesn't actually mean he wants to hurt anyone." Picking up the card, the lady pointed the features out to me. Low eyebrows. Mouth open to only reveal teeth. "This is what angry looks like. You can be angry but not want to hurt anyone. You can be angry because... because.... -Because someone stole your puppy and you want it back!"

     My own eyebrows lowered a smidge, even the minor change in expression without prompting was enough to shock the woman. "He still looks like he wants to hurt people." I repeated. "I don't like angry."

     Sighing, the lady put down the card and slid it aside. "..Alright then. If you don't want to practice that one, you don't have to." I forced a rather odd looking smile. After all, I was getting what I wanted, wasn't I? You smile when you get what you want, right?

     "Thank you."

----------------------------------------------

     Thinking back to that comically simple picture..

     ...yeah... This spiky hair kid was the EMBODIMENT of anger.

-----

     I really didn't have anything to say. Not like talking would help. How was I supposed to talk to this guy about my lack of control of power over all this when he CLEARLY wasn't listening?! Hhh... This was going to be difficult.

Wwweeeeee-wwwooooooo!

     Or...was it?

     Two, no, three police cars rolled down our block and hastily parked right in front of the house.

     "Put your hands over your head!!" One of the many policemen shouted as they jumped from their vehicles. My eyes brightened a little. One of my neighbors must have seen the commotion and called the cops immediately! "We WILL call for heroes if you resist!"

     "WHAT?!?" Spiky hair spun around, shocked by the mere thought of him being taken in. "D### ALL OF YOU! I'M JUST TALKING TO HER!!" The massive hole in my window and cuts across my skin said otherwise. "Tell them, Time Hag!" He spun back to me.

     "What did you just call me??"

     "Tell them this is all YOUR fault!!" I saw the desperation in his eyes. There was something new here. Finally, something besides pure, raw anger... I just couldn't tell what.

     I smirked, then turned my attention to the officers, hands raised slightly for good measure. "I- I have no idea who this is!!" I blurted. "Officers, please help me! He threw me across the lawn!" I ignored the teen's silent pleas. Like I had any debts toward him anyways.

     "YOU LIAR! YOU-"

     "Put your hands over your head!!"

     "SHUT UP ALREADY! I AM, OKAY?!" Saying so, his hands flung up. He was further instructed to sit himself on the ground and be cuffed as another officer came up to me and asked for the story. I gave him the truth, and that was enough to warrant the teen's arrest for what would have been several months for both improper quirk usage, damage of personal property, and attacking a civilian. Good thing he wasn't an adult able to receive the full sentence for all THAT! 

     I knew, however, that spiky hair wouldn't be locked away for months. No. Because apparently, just like me, he was trapped in this time loop too, giving him a literal 'get out of jail free' card. No doubt that boy would be back the next day. Heck, though he was escorted away oddly quiet, I knew this just had to be because he had given up for now.. But he, just like me, knew...or at least hoped...that he would have another chance tomorrow.... -Today.

     The last of the police officers left when my mom returned with the boys from their now daily trip to the dentist. Not long after, my dad showed up a little earlier than usual to make sure everything was okay.

     Other than the massive hole in the window, thankfully, things calmed down quickly from there.

----------

     I wasn't all too interested in sushi that evening. Mom finally switched the meals up thanks to the event shaking up her entire schedule. I poked at my little sushi rolls for maybe a minute or two before asking I leave the house entirely.

     I stood before granted permission.

     I walked outside along the empty sidewalk of the neighborhood. The sun had just set. Late dinner.

     Occasionally, a car drove past or a bike chimed as it weaved around me. I made no attempts to look up. My hands were in my pockets. My mind couldn't think of much but the incident with spiky hair today. How...did that even happen? There was still so much I needed to learn about my powers and how they worked! Clearly, the less I knew, the worse off I was. How sad it was to be stuck in the very time loop I myself created.

     I huffed, sad there weren't any rocks to kick around in this pristine neighborhood.

     "Where are you going?"

     I jumped, stopping where I stood. Glancing upward to where I heard the voice, a ways away, I saw the nearly invisible form of my dad standing so casually on a telephone wire. "Wh??... I.. Nowhere. Just...ne- needed some space."

     "Hm..." Dad jumped from the wire so skillfully, I remembered he was actually a hero and not just some late night trash collector for a living. He didn't speak again until he was close enough for me to hear him without having to project his voice. "I misjudged your actions today... Seems to me your refusal to go was to avoid conflict with the other student, Bakugo." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "I don't know what happened between you, or even how you met, but I will admit it was really mature of you to try to avoid him. Who knows? With his quirk, the rest of the class could have been severely injured if caught up in it... I will give you another chance tomorrow, but anymore mess ups and that is it." I...almost smiled... If I wasn't stuck in this time loop...maybe I would have preferred this over what originally happened.

     But...then again... Did I really want to go to UA?

     I couldn't manage much more than a weak thanks, before brushing his hand off my shoulder and continuing down the path to nowhere. Instead of doing his own thing, though, Dad walked quietly beside me. Eventually his foot pattern fell into place with mine. I was a little peeved by this for some reason. I started to wonder if he was really just sticking around to keep me safe or something.

     "I know how to fight, Dad.." I growled. "I can defend myself if a villain shows up." My gaze remained on the floor. When his feet refused to leave my view, I stopped. "I said I don't need you here." Carrying a little more spite now. I really just wanted him to leave, but refused to look him in the eyes. Dad stopped, turned around, and stood quietly in front of me.

     Finally, when I was about at my boiling point, "I know you can defend yourself." His tone was oddly calm despite my rebellious behavior. "I've never looked down upon you for not having a flashy quirk. That would just be hypocritical coming from me."

     My fists clenched tightly inside my pockets. "Then whyy are you still here?" I snapped, never looking up.

     "...Did you forget that I'm your father or something?" Now came the hint of anger.

     "No..."

     "Then why would you even question me just wanting to hang out?"

     "Because it's weird, okay?" Hissing through my teeth. "Because--because hanging out is just something you do with the boys; not me. A- and it's just weird!"

     "What are you talking about?.. It's not strange to spend time with my own daughter-"

     "But I'm not your daughter, am I?!" For the first time in the conversation, my head rose abruptly, surprised for a moment to see not a judgemental look, but a look of curiosity or concern on his face. "The only reason you even call me that is to be with Mom!! I know how much you hate m-me!" I felt a prick of pain in my heart, a stiffness in my chest, and my eyes heating up with tears. Oh no, was I sad?? Mad??

     I caught myself before I could go any further. I wrapped my arms around my chest in agony, feeling such strong internal pain I hadn't felt in SO long! It scared me. Was I going to explode?! Salty tears fell as I helplessly gasped for air. I had no idea what to do. An insane amount of guilt wanted over me for even feeling such emotions! But, at the same time...it was so rewarding to remember I wasn't just some sick, emotionless freak.

     Two long, strong arms wrapped around me. My entire body tensed up. I felt though I was on fire. A hug was the LAST thing I wanted, especially from HIM!

     "I'm sorry you've felt this way..." One hand stroked through my hair, and it wasn't long before I could breathe rhythmically again. "And for so long, I never even noticed..." Regret spilled with his words. My internal pain shifted. Not quite as harsh and jabbing as before, but now it was like a lingering fire under my skin. A weight crushing my soul....and it hurt. I pressed my forehead into the darkness of his shirt and let the tears stream out. Sobbing. A quiet sobbing was all I was good for in that moment. All while my dad continued to hug me comfortably. "Are you...feeling a little better now..?"

     Clenching my eyes shut even tighter, "I...don't...know..."

     "Well then.. How about this?" Feeling the hug was coming to a close, Dad let me go and gently guided me to spin around and start walking. "Do you still remember when we first met?"

     I wiped a couple tears away, now trying to cover up the fact that I had just cried. "...Kind of."

     "If you don't mind, I'd like to tell you the story, but from my perspective for a change."

     "Huh?.. Oh, okay..."

----------------------------------------------

     It had been a really long day. A man dressed almost entirely in black, with hair that too blended with the shadows, entered through the front doors of the hospital with his two hands hidden away in his pockets. Hair brushed over his face. What little eye was visible was worn out and done with the day already. The man stepped up to the front desk where a lady already stood.

     "Hey, I'm here for that appointment with Jusha. Jusha Ketsi." The man spoke in a monotone manner, every mannerism matching the done-with-life vibes he emitted 24/7.

     "Relation to the patient?" The lady at the front desk asked.

     "Eraserhead. I'm...the hero who was in charge of his arrest and voted he be brought here instead of a local cell." A hint of care shone through those dull, charcoal blue eyes of his.

     "Ah! Here it is." Opening a tab on one of her computer screens. "It'll be a few minutes. Just sit here in the lobby and we'll call on you when he's ready." The lady smiled before picking up a phone to inform the rest of the staff.

     "Thanks..." Eraserhead walked over to and sat on a bench in the waiting room. After only a minute or two, the young man was having a hard time staying awake. The dark bags under his eyes told of his unusual sleep schedule and how ill prepared he was for scheduling something like this mid-day when he was usually sleeping. Right as his eyelids were about to give out on him, the man heard small footsteps draw nearer. His body shook awake when a small, fragile hand touched his knee. "Wh?!" Eraserhead was fully awake now, eyes darting around the room. They eventually landed on a small girl with pale blue, nearly white hair. Her brown eyes were so round and big, so childlike, and yet there was a look in them he had never seen in any child before. Her eyes were glazed and distant, though she chose to engage right here and now.

     In her grasp, between both arms, was a fluffy blue pillow with bright yellow stars all over its surface. After a second or so was given to let the man get aquatinted with her presence, the girl lifted the pillow and caringly placed it on his lap. She said nothing; only bowed a tad before turning around and scurrying off past the invisible line where no stranger was allowed to go into the halls of the facility. Eraserhead stared in the direction where she had gone, speechless.

     Even as ten more minutes passed, the young man couldn't get that girl's odd expression and kind gesture out of his head. He was trying not to fall asleep, so the pillow wasn't all too helpful, but wondering about what a little girl like that was doing in a place like this kept him awake enough to function.

     The front doors again chimed in welcome to a young lady in business casual uniform carrying a bag of groceries on one arm and a phone in the other.

     "Oh! Hello, Ms. Taylor!" The lady at the front counter recognized the other young woman right away.

     "Hello, Andre! Sorry I'm late!"

     "No need. I'm sure Zeya won't even notice!" The kind lady reassured the other woman who plopped her bag of things on the counter for a brief moment to pick up loose strands of her messy, beautifully wavy hair.

     "Hhh, you keep saying that, but you know how anxious she gets when I'm away for too long.." Ms. Taylor vented as she fidgeted with her phone, shoving it into a pocket not meant to actually hold anything. When all that was sorted out, she picked up her bag from the counter again. Her eyes snapped towards the bench the young hero was sitting at and her eyes widened. "My, how did Zeya's pillow end up there?!" Eraser's eyes widened a smidge, head turning and peering down at the blue and yellow pillow he had set beside him several minutes ago.

     "Aw-haww.. I wish you could've seen it. Zeya was being such a little angel by offering it to the man over there." The lady at the desk, now leaning over the desk, smiled cutely as she remembered that moment as well. Eraserhead's posture straightened up a little as the woman came his way, hoping he looked better put together than the last time he saw himself in the mirror.

     "Sorry if my daughter was bothering you." The lady bashfully chuckled as she neared. "She can be really curious sometimes."

     "O-oh, no, mam, she wasn't a problem at all. Heh... Just handed me the pillow and left."

     "Well...perhaps I should talk to her about walking up to random strangers- o-uh-oh!" As the young woman leaned forward to grab the pillow, her flimsy grocery bag tore open, spilling things like food and toys all over the floor. "Oh!...nnooo..." Her face immediately flushed the brightest shade of red the young hero had ever seen on anyone before.

     "-Allow me." Already being closer to the ground than her, Eraserhead got down on one knee and started picking items up off of the floor.

     "No-no, you don't have to!-"

     "I insist." He responded plainly, which gave the woman no other choice than to accept his help. She bent down and picked up a few things too. When they were done, both stood with armfuls of items but no bags to put them in. "...If you will allow it, I can help you carry these the rest of the way." Eraser offered calmly. The lady's face dove out of sight to hide the faint blush building on her cheeks. "Is that...allowed?" He asked the lady at the desk.

     The taller women's eyes squinted nearly closed as a thin, cheeky smile stretched over her face."I'll allow it~" She hid a giggle.

     "O...kay then..." The brunette chuckled. "...This way, then!" Faking confidence, she led the way. The tall, slender man followed behind with her groceries.

     After they had been walking down the hallway for a little bit, "So, Zeya is your daughter then?"

     "Yup!"

     "And she is...a patient here..?"

     "..Yup."

     "...Do you mind if I ask how that happened?... I thought this place was for the mentally ill and or unstable."

     "It...yeah. Zeya has...had her challenges in the past..."

     "...Oh..."

     "...-Okay I'll just tell you! So one day it was just like any other, when I came down to the kitchen to find my sweet little girl bleeding on the floor!"

     "Woah.. Was she attacked?"

     "Not that I know of!!" Clearly agitated, the lady's walking became much stiffer than before,  widened eyes downcast. "From what I could tell it looked like she had stabbed herself!!"

     "Hey.." The man spoke up calmly, "It's okay..." His tone was reassuring. Zeya's mother allowed herself a moment to take in a deep breath.

     "Hhh, you're right. Thankfully, nothing like that has happened again...but she still won't talk...and I don't know what's wrong..." She sounded so...defeated.

     "...She's not talking?"

     "Mmhm.. Hasn't said a word in months! We're hoping her new friend can help, but...it's a slow process, and I miss hearing my baby's voice..." Man, so many emotions wrapped up into this one ordeal. Now the young woman was on the verge of tears.

     Silence. Eraserhead stared ahead for a while, before finally responding. "From what I've heard...you sound like a really strong woman... I can bet something like this would take a lot out of anyone."

     Sniffling, "Thanks.. I know. I'm sorry for bringing you into this. I'm sure you're here for your own family related drama."

     "Actually, no. The only reason I'm here is to check in on a...past villain. He... We managed to talk a little bit while I was fighting him, and it was obvious how much help this guy needed. Didn't take me very much to talk him out of the cult he had been following since birth, and once his eyes were opened, he was so desperate for the truth he practically begged me to arrest him... It's been a week and I'm wondering how he's doing."

     "Wait, fighting?!"

     "I'm a hero. Eraserhead."

     "A he-?... Ohhh... That's great, actually!" The woman's eyes widened with excitement, turning and looking up into the duller eyes of the taller man. "My daughter always used to talk about heroes and how cool they were! Never really had a favorite, but loved pretending to be one herself! Maybe!.. Maybe if she gets to meet a hero in person??... Do you think you could put on your costume for her?"

     "Costume..? Heh, you're looking at it." The hero smirked.

     "Ah-...oh?" The young woman squinted a little, examining the black shirt, black pants, black shoes, and gray scarf...none of which exactly looked like a hero outfit. "Well...I'm sure Zeya will be excited to meet a hero regardless!... You think you...could stay and chat a little longer...?"

     'I was hoping to get some sleep today...' "...Sure. I don't see why not. I can come back after my planned visit."

     "Yesss!"

     "So... Are we any closer to the room yet..?"

     "Wh? Oh! Silly me. We passed it a while ago! Oops!"

     "Hhhh..heh."

----------------------------------------------

     "And that's why...well, I've been a little harder on you lately." The mood was so much quieter now. I was sulking a bit now, deeply regretting the cry, while Dad explained himself. "You were always, despite what you were going through, a really nice, caring young girl... I know that potential is still in you, but... I saw what you did to your past classmate during the exams... It hurts to see that you've changed so much..."

     I...was silent. Despite my mind racing around with ways to defend myself..I knew it was the truth.

     ...I used to be such a nice kid...

     ...What happened..?

     I refused to show any signs that what he said had reached me, preferring silence over a response.

     Instead, I went with a different topic. "I...'ve forgotten why...I ever wanted to be a hero. Even now..I just... I don't know..."

     I expected a long, tiring talking-to from him about villains and heroes, something about society, and maybe even something about how terrible a person I am sprinkled in. But instead I got, "...What do you want to be, then..?"

     "Huh?" Tilting my head to peer up at him.

     "What else do you have in mind other than a hero? Being a hero takes a special kind of drive. If you don't want to be one...then don't."

     "But Mom-"

     "-Will be just fine. She will support you no matter what you decide to be... As will I."

     He stared dead ahead. My eyes were stuck on him until everything became blurry to me. That's when I realized just how big of a thing this was. For such permission to be given to me?? To realize I would have the support of my parents no matter what I chose?? It was...freeing, to say the least. Dad, seeing my state of pure revelation in me, rested an arm over my shoulders in a brief but tight side hug. "You...really mean it..?"

     "Only if you promise me you'll work at something else just as diligently as being a hero... Something that you truly have a passion for."

     "Okay, Dad... I promise. I'll tell you exactly what I want to be...

                   ...In the morning..."